1. SHOOTING STAR HITS CHRISTCHURCH
Terrence Lewis, the best three point shooter in the New Zealand National Basketball League, arrived in Christchurch at the weekend. The Rams landmark signing over the off-season will make his first home appearance at the WestpacTrust Centre on April 13th against the Manawatu Jets.

Lewis has played in the NBL for seven seasons with the Wellington Saints (1993-96 and 1999-2001). He has appeared in 138 regular season games and averages a staggering 27.9 points per game. Lewis also shoots an astonishing 82% from the free throw line.

Lewis’ work off the court will start with the coming school year when he begins to run basketball clinics at Canterbury schools as part of The Rambo Charitable Trust’s Community Outreach programme.

Lewis’ developing roots in the Canterbury community will continue to grow when his seven year old son, Terrence (also known as “Little T”), begins school at Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Te Whanau Tahi in Lyttelton Street later this month. It is no surprise that Little T is also a talented basketball player. He was a Wellington age group representative in 2001, and will be taking to the basketball courts in Christchurch in February, when junior programmes resume.

NOTE: Make sure you read Monday’s edition of The Press as Terrence discusses the hoops at the WestpacTrust Centre.

2. JANUARY CAMP SUCCESS
In conjunction with the Rambo Charitable Trust, the Rams held their third camp for junior players last week at Pioneer Stadium. 38 keen basketballers attended and were given instruction from some of Canterbury’s best coaches including: Rams Head Coach John Watson, Tall Ferns Assistant Gilly McFarlane, Ram Boyd Smart and former Ram Clifton Bush. The camp was managed by Boyd and everyone involved had an enjoyable time.

3. NBL PLAYER MOVEMENT & COACHES
There have been a number of players changing teams over the off-season:
Terrence Lewis (from Wellington Saints to Canterbury Rams)
Clifton Bush (from Waikato Titans to Palm. North Jets)
Ed Book (from Palm. North Jets to Nelson Giants)
Dillon Boucher (from Auckland to Waikato Titans)
Hayden Allen (from Otago Nuggets to Waikato Titans)
Michael Fitchett (from Nelson Giants to Otago Nuggets)
Tim Gillan (from Otago Nuggets to Palm. North Jets)

Luke Ruscoe (Canterbury Rams – US Scholarship)
Craig Hickford (Canterbury Rams – London)
Murray Clarke (Otago Nuggets – year off)
Ian Cathcart and Andrew Sheppard (Otago Nuggets - scholarship at Lyon
College in Arkansas)

New Coaches in 2002:
John Watson (Canterbury Rams)
Wayne Brown (Palm. North Jets)
Dean Vickerman (Wellington Saints)

4. TALL BLACKS HALBERG FINALISTS
The Tall Blacks historic achievement of qualifying for the World Basketball Championships, by beating Australia last year, has been recognised in the New Zealand Sports Awards Finalists. The ceremony will be held in Wellington on February 28.
Team of the Year Finalists: New Zealand sevens (rugby), Tall Blacks (basketball), women's double scull (rowing), women's quadruple scull (rowing).
Coach of the Year Finalists: Gordon Tietjens (sevens rugby), Tab Baldwin (basketball), John Davies (athletics), Richard Tonks (rowing).

5. TICKET PACKAGES
CLICK HERE FOR SEASON TICKET APPLICATION (.PDF FORMAT)
2002 ticket packages are currently available direct from the Ticketek outlet at the WespacTrust Centre and through Ticketek phone bookings (03) 377-8899.
Note: 2001 Season Ticket Holders: Your seat from last season will be held until 1 February 2002. This gives you the first right on your seat until that date.

8-GAMES (all home games)
Adult $84
Student $56
Child $40
Family $230
- Includes choice of coffee mug, travel mug, autographed team poster, or complete set of signed collector cards + All Star Game ticket (family=4 gifts)

4-GAMES (Red or Black options, see application form for package details)
Adult $42
Student$28
Child $20
Family $115 (2 adult, 2 child)
- Includes choice of autographed team poster, or complete set of signed collector cards + All Star Game ticket (family=4 gifts)

6. RAMS 2002 SCHEDULE
Sun 7 April (AWAY) Rams @ Otago Nuggets
Sat 13 April (HOME) Rams vs Manawatu Jets 7:00 pm
Sat 20 April (AWAY) Rams @ Waikato Titans
Fri 26 April (AWAY) Rams @ Hawkes Bay Hawks
Sat 27 April (AWAY) Rams @ Manawatu Jets
Sat 4 May (HOME) Rams vs Waikato Titans 7:00 pm
Sat 11 May (AWAY) Rams @ Nelson Giants
Fri 17 May (HOME) Rams vs North Harbour Kings 7:30 pm
Fri 24 May (HOME) Rams vs Wellington Saints 7:30 pm
Fri 7 June (HOME) Rams vs Auckland 7:30 pm
Sat 15 June (AWAY) Rams @ Wellington Saints
Sun 30 June (HOME) Rams vs Hawkes Bay Hawks 2:00 pm
Fri 5 July (AWAY) Rams @ Auckland
Sat 6 July (AWAY) Rams @ North Harbour Kings
Fri 12 July (HOME) Rams vs Otago Nuggets 7:30 pm
Sat 20 July (HOME) Rams vs Nelson Giants 7:00 pm


Please feel free to forward this information to your basketball friends. Newcomers can subscribe to Rams News by sending an e-mail to [email protected] with "sign me up" in the subject line. Comments about the newsletter can be sent to [email protected]

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